Cognitive Training Trial

Summary

Currently, only two treatment modalities for pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD) are considered evidence-based: (1) pharmacological and (2) behavioral
treatment. Recently, several studies have shown promising results suggesting efficacy for
cognitive training interventions for children with ADHD. These interventions directly train
cognitive function (i.e., attention, working memory) by having children practice cognitive
skills using computerized tasks. In these studies, improvements related to the cognitive
training intervention have been documented on neuropsychological tests, academic tasks, and
parent ratings of children's ADHD behavior. Given the ubiquitous finding of increased
reaction time (RT) variability among children with ADHD, the candidate worked with a group
of developers to modify a cognitive training intervention to target RT variability. That is,
train the children to be less variable in their responding. Initial clinical data from this
intervention suggest that intervention exposure improves behavioral outcomes. However, an
appropriate powered randomized clinical trial is necessary to experimentally demonstrate
intervention efficacy.Sixty-four (64) children diagnosed with ADHD (either Predominantly
Inattentive Type or Combined Type) will be randomly assigned to intervention or control
conditions. Children in the intervention group will receive 8 weeks of the Computerized
Progressive Attention Training (CPAT) intervention. Children in the control group will
receive the CPAT intervention but there will be no progression in difficulty based on
performance as in the intervention group. Children in both groups will be assessed
pre-intervention and immediately after the 8-week training on neuropsychological,
behavioral, and academic outcome measures. Hypothesis-driven data analyses will assess
intervention efficacy.

Hypothesis #1: Children in the experimental group exposed to the CPAT intervention will
show greater improvement from pre- to post-intervention on neuropsychological tests compared
to children in the control group.

Hypothesis #2: Children in the experimental group exposed to the CPAT intervention will
show greater improvement from pre- to post-intervention on parent and teacher behavioral
ratings of ADHD behavior compared to children in the control group.

Hypothesis #3: Children in the experimental group exposed to the CPAT intervention will
show greater improvement from pre- to post-intervention on academic outcomes compared to
children in the control group.

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Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions

Training Support

Financial support for training including both student stipends and loans and training grants to institutions.

Inservice Training

On the job training programs for personnel carried out within an institution or agency. It includes orientation programs.

Area Health Education Centers

Education centers authorized by the Comprehensive Health Manpower Training Act, 1971, for the training of health personnel in areas where health needs are the greatest. May be used for centers other than those established by the United States act.

Child Rearing

The training or bringing-up of children by parents or parent-substitutes. It is used also for child rearing practices in different societies, at different economic levels, in different ethnic groups, etc. It differs from PARENTING in that in child rearing the emphasis is on the act of training or bringing up the child and the interaction between the parent and child, while parenting emphasizes the responsibility and qualities of exemplary behavior of the parent.

Aphasia, Primary Progressive

A progressive form of dementia characterized by the global loss of language abilities and initial preservation of other cognitive functions. Fluent and nonfluent subtypes have been described. Eventually a pattern of global cognitive dysfunction, similar to ALZHEIMER DISEASE, emerges. Pathologically, there are no Alzheimer or PICK DISEASE like changes, however, spongiform changes of cortical layers II and III are present in the TEMPORAL LOBE and FRONTAL LOBE. (From Brain 1998 Jan;121(Pt 1):115-26)

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